The Agony of Defeat
May 7, 2012Anyone in the baby boomer category will remember the amazing open to ABC’s Wide World of Sports. It featured the horrific fall off the ramp by an Olympic ski jumper and was always accompanied by the immortal line (which came after the “Thrill Continue Reading »
When Personal and Restaurant Information Become Relevant
April 9, 2012I’ve had several people complain that it was pointless and redundant for me to announce that Sap and Mam, former owners of the acclaimed Madam Mam’s, had divorced. I mentioned this both on diningoutwithrobbalon.com and on my Facebook pages. Continue Reading »
What Goes Around Truly Comes Around at Trento
March 26, 2012When my wife and I first tried Trento about a month and a half ago, I ran in to Nina Seely, an old friend who I’d not seen in years. She and her husband Frank are partners with Donnie Damuth in the restaurant. Nina is a neat woman with a great eye Continue Reading »
Judging the Proverbial Book by its Cover
March 22, 2012I know a woman who will almost automatically veer away from a restaurant if it’s not draped in white linens with oak and mahogany trim and fitted with thick, plush leather chairs. Oh and lots of glass and chrome is nice too. She is not alone among Continue Reading »
Austin’s Legendary Restaurant Warriors Saddle Up for Yet Another Ride
February 17, 2012You have to know Craig Gatewood. The long-time Austin restaurateur has helmed such placed as the Lakeview Café, the Dam View, Jake’s, El Dorado and many others. At 60, you would think he would want to think about hanging up his spurs and lighting out Continue Reading »
Lay Off Paula Deen
January 19, 2012Paula Deen OK. So she’s the queen of deliciously fattening southern cuisine. And Tony Bourdain is pissed at her: says she’s killing people by virtually handing them recipes for Type II Diabetes. Well here’s my take. I have Type II or Continue Reading »
The Year-Old McDonald’s Cheeseburger
January 19, 2012This is truly a bizarre story that should alarm all of us who care about food. Seems that a California nutritionist bought a McDonald’s cheeseburger and then, as an experiment, let it sit out unwrapped and unrefrigerated for an entire YEAR! She wanted Continue Reading »
Restaurant Owners and their Foibles
November 23, 2011Reviewing restaurants is a great deal of fun, and one gets to meet some very interesting and talented people. But sometimes I also come across situations that are flat-out funny or ironic, and I thought I’d share some with you. Romanian Logic I really Continue Reading »
Once Again, For Those Who Haven’t Yet Heard the Explanation: Why We Do Things the Way We Do at Dining Out with Rob
October 31, 2011Yes, I’ll admit that diningoutwithrobbalon.com is not your typical restaurant review website. And this seems to annoy some people who tend to visit websites where the content is exclusively user generated. The usual comments from them are almost predictable: Continue Reading »
Rob Begins Column in Horns Illustrated
October 31, 2011Those of you (and there are many in the area) who are UT alums and receive the Horns Illustrated magazine will be seeing a new feature by yours truly on dining opportunities before and after the big game. I was frankly tickled that a sports magazine Continue Reading »
